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Biodegradable Dielectric Insulating Fluid

BIOTEMP ®



BIOTEMP® is an advanced dielectric

insulating medium that was developed

by ABB to be friendly to the

environment. The fluid has excellent

dielectric characteristics with high

temperature stability and superior flash

and fire resistance. BIOTEMP® has

excellent compatibility with solid

insulating materials and is biodegradable

in a short time period.

BIOTEMP® is currently in use in small

power and distribution transformers

across the United States. The fluid has a

proven success rate in heavily populated

areas and in varying environments from

the tropical environment of Hawaii to

the frigid northern slopes of Alaska.

Environmentally friendlyBIOTEMP® is non-toxic to bird, animal

and human life and is 97% biodegradable

within 21 days when exposed to

microbes. The fluid does not contain

any petroleum, halogens, silicones or

other materials that might adversely

effect the environment.

BIOTEMP® is a renewable and

biodegradable vegetable oil as defined

under the Edible Oil Regulatory Reform

Act of 1995. The fluid is based on a

property-enhanced vegetable oil,

combined with stabilizers to enhance

oxidation stability.

Dielectric strength with improved

tolerance to moisture

BIOTEMP® exceeds the dielectric

strength of mineral oil and High

Temperature Hydrocarbons (HTH’s) and

maintains dielectric strength with

higher levels of moisture.

Moisture is soluble in BIOTEMP® up

to 1100 PPM at room temperature.

Moisture at this level does not result in the

formation of a separate water (ice) layer.

Free moisture (moisture levels above

500PPM) can have a negative effect on

electric and chemical properties.

Due to the affinity of BIOTEMP® to

absorb water, studies indicate that the

life of insulation paper can be

increased over transformer oil from

petroleum sources. The study showed

that BIOTEMP® /Kraft paper has

double the life of mineral oil/Kraft

paper with tensile strength and degree of

polymerization measurements validating

this conclusion.

When maintained in sealed equipment

in the absence of dissolved contaminants

and free water, BIOTEMP® does not form

fungal or other biological growths.

However, under extended warm

conditions and in the presence of

contaminants that can act as food

materials for fungi, free moisture may

lead to biological growths in the unit. As

with other fluids, care must be exercised

when handling and testing to keep the

material clean and free of excessive

moisture and exposure to oxygen.

Gas absorption and gas evolution

BIOTEMP® has many advantages over

existing insulating fluids in relation to

gas absorption and gas evolution

under arcing. Testing has confirmed

that only 25% of the total volume of

gasses generated from petroleum

based oils are produced when

BIOTEMP® is arced. The gasses

produced do not contain many of the

polyaromatic hydrocarbons associated

BIOTEMP ®

with arcing petroleum-based oils.

Arcing BIOTEMP® produces carbon

monoxide, hydrogen, and detectable

traces of smaller hydrocarbon molecules.

Superior thermal characteristics

Pour point for BIOTEMP® is -15 to -

25ºC; this value is comparable to HTH's.

BIOTEMP® does not expand upon

freezing and solidifies into a hard

gel-like solid that still acts as both an

insulating and cooling medium. In

transformers, gas evolution from

rapidly cooled BIOTEMP® has not

been observed.

A unit filled with BIOTEMP® was cooled

down to -70ºC and than energized at

100% full load. This load was maintained

until the unit reached full operating

temperature, 65ºC. The fluid returned

from a solid to a liquid state as the

operating temperature increased withoutdetrimental effects.

The thermal properties of BIOTEMP®

are superior to conventional mineral

oil. The fluid has a lower oil temperature

rise than mineral oil when used in

transformers. Higher thermal conductivity

results in improved heat transfer.

Compatibility with materials

BIOTEMP®

is not affected by reactions

Coefficient of Expansion, /ºC(ASTM D1903)

6.88 x 10 -4 7.55 x 10 -4 7.3 x 10 -4 1.04 x 10 -3

Specific Heat (cal/gr/ºC)(ASTM D2766)

0.47 0.43 0.45 0.36

Fire pt. ºC (ASTM D92) 360 160 308 330Flash pt. ºC (ASTM D92) 330 145 285 300

(ASTM D445) 40ºC

0ºC 300 76 2200 90

381101245

Viscosity, cSt. 100ºC 10 3 11.5 16

Physical

Dielectric Strengh, kV(ASTM D877)

45 30 40 43

Electrical

Pour pt. ºC (ASTM D97) -15 to -25 -40 -24 -55

Sp. Gravity (ASTM D1298) 0.91 0.91 0.87 0.96

Color (ASTM D1500) <0.5 0.5 0.5 - 2.0 <0.5

EnvironmentalBiodegradation Rate (%)21 - day CEC - L - 33

97.0 25.2 27.1 0.0

BIOTEMP Mineral Oil H.T.H. Silicone

TYPICAL PROPERTIES OF INSULATING FLUIDS



with other materials of transformer construction

and is non-oxidizing and non-corrosive at

temperatures considerably above normal

operating temperatures.

High temperature stability

BIOTEMP® has distinct advantages over other

high temperature dielectric fluids with fire and

flash points well above 300ºC. BIOTEMP® is

difficult to ignite and produces only carbon

dioxide and water without harmful polyaromatic or

silicate byproducts when burned.

Oxidation Stability

BIOTEMP® is provided with oxidation inhibitors

at a level non-toxic to humans. During the

normal expected life of a unit, the oxidation

inhibitors in the fluid should provide more than

enough protection from oxidative degradation.

Units are shipped under a dry nitrogen blanket

and excessive oxidation should not occur unless

the fluid is left exposed to air for several hourswithout degassing before prolonged operation.

Oxidation stability testing shows that BIOTEMP®

remains liquid and sludge does not form. Although

neutralization values in some cases exceed the

maximum specifications set for mineral oil at 72

and 164 hours, Life Test results show that this is

not detrimental to the operation of the transformer.

Fire Safety and Codes

Factory Mutual has listed BIOTEMP® as a "Less

Flammable" fluid and Underwriters Laboratories

classifies it as a "Less Hazardous" dielectric medium

in respect to fire hazard. Dielectric fluids are

not currently available on the market that can

exceed the flash and fire points of BIOTEMP®.

Storage and handling

BIOTEMP® can be transferred and stored similar

to petroleum based fluids. Transfer equipment

and storage vessels should be clean and free of

contaminates and moisture. During storage, the

vessel should be airtight and is preferablystored under dry nitrogen. BIOTEMP® is not

an aggressive solvent and is not known to

degrade rubber hoses or membranes.

Recommended Maintenance

Degassing and refilling the headspace with dry

nitrogen after prolonged or frequent exposure

(totaling more than five hours) to air is

necessary for the life of the fluid. Periodic

maintenance tests should follow the same

schedule used for mineral oil-filled equipment.

Applications

BIOTEMP® is suitable for application

indoors and in areas of heightenedenvironmental sensitivity where any

insulating fluid spill could require

expensive clean-up procedures.

Retrofilling Transformers

BIOTEMP® mixes in all proportions

with mineral oils. Concentrations

of mineral oil in excess of 10% by

weight may lower the fire point

below 300ºC. BIOTEMP® does not

mix with silicone fluids.

Specification Guide

The dielectric coolant shall be

listed less-flammable fluid meetingthe requirements of National

Electrical Code Section 450-23,

including a minimum fire point of

300ºC and the requirements of the

National Electrical Safety Code

(IEEE C2-1997), Section 15. The

fluid shall be non-toxic,

non-bioaccumulating and

biodegradable. It shall be Factury

Mutual Approved and UL Classified,

BIOTEMP® Fluid or equal.

Property Value Test Method

Electrical

Dielectric Breakdown, min. 45 kV @ 25ºC ASTM D877

Dielectric Breakdown, min. 32 kV @ .04" gap65 kV @ .08" gap

ASTM D1816

Dissapation Factor (PowerFactor) max.

0.15% @ 25ºC2.0% @ 100ºC

ASTM D924

Relative Permittivity(Dielectric Constant)

3.2 @ 25ºC ASTM D924

Volume Resistivity 1 x 10Ω

-cm @ 100ºC

13

ASTM D1169

Dielectric Breakdown,Impulse, min.

100 kV (- needle)90 kV (- needle)

ASTM D3300

Gassing Tendency, max. +5.0 ASTM D2300

Physical

Color, max <0.5 ASTM D1500

Coefficient of Expansion 6.88 x 10 /ºC ASTM D1903-4

Flash Point, min. 330ºC ASTM D92

Fire Point, min. 360ºC ASTM D92

Pour Point, max. -15 to -25ºC ASTM D97

Specific Gravity, max. 0.91 @ 15ºC ASTM D1298

Specific Heat(Cal./ gm./ºC)

0.57 @ 25ºC0.60 @ 100ºC0.67 @ 200ºC

ASTM D2766

Thermal Conductivity, W/(mK) 0.17 @ 25ºC0.26 @ 100ºC0.36 @ 200ºC

ASTM D2717

Viscosity, cSt. max. 10 @ 100ºC45 @ 40ºC300 @ 0ºC

ASTM D445

Visual Appearance Clear & Bright ASTM D1524

Chemical

Corrosive Sulfur Non - Corrosive ASTM D1275

Inorganic Clorides& Sulfates

Non - Detectable ASTM D878

Moisture Content, max. 150 PPM ASTM D1533

Neutralization Number(Acid), max.

0.075 mg. KOH/gm. ASTM D974

PCB Content Non - Detectable ASTM D4059

BIOTEMP ® TYPICAL FLUID PROPERTIES



ABB Inc.

2135 Philpott RoadSouth Boston, VA 24592(434) 575-7971 Fax: (434) 575-2208

www.abb.com/transformers

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